ERNIE Ayers won the last match in the veterans competition last Tuesday, writes John Stubbs.

Drawn on peg 199, he took 14lb 4oz to edge out Lionel Sheen, peg 191 with 13lb 10oz, and third was Alex Walton with 11lb 2oz off peg 195 in the Marina section.

Top rod on the Red Lion section was Geoff Stannier with 8lb 6oz off peg 188. Ted Isherwood, peg 189, had 6lb 13oz for second spot and Doug Mad-dock had 5lb 13oz off peg 186 for third spot.

The new closed season series starts at Border Fisheries on Tuesday with eight teams of four anglers, the best eight matches from 13 to count.

The first match is on the Maridian and then the match lake, alternating each week.

Last day on the river on Wednesday saw the Winsford Open honours going to Timmy Wright with 25lb 2oz off peg 201. Colin Webb took 19lb 7oz off peg 199 for second spot, Darren Hogg was third with 11lb 14oz off the boards peg 193, Pete Sheckleton, peg 194 had 10lb 6oz and Doug Maddock 10lb 2oz off peg 203.

Flash Fisheries at Winsford turned up some good weights at the weekend. Saturday's winner, Sam Pendlebury (Leigh), put 16lb 12oz on the scales off peg 56 to pip Steve Grimshaw (Chorley), peg 54, who had 16lb 10oz and Terry Crosby (Bolton), peg 61, third with 10lb 12oz.

Sunday featured strong winds, sleet and snow but the fish decided to feed. Phil Murphy (Leigh), peg 61, had top weight with 41lb 7oz. Saturday's top rod Pendlebury (Leigh), peg 57, was second with 31lb 2oz, Shaun Bilsbury (Leigh), peg 55, had 20lb 5oz to make it over 100lb for the Leigh trio. Dave Mellor (Warrington) took 28lb and fourth spot with Larry Bates (North-wich) in fifth with 27lb 8oz.